Square and Cube Roots

Description

The definition for irrational numbers relies on students’ understanding of rational numbers, that is, students know that rational numbers are points on a number line and that every quotient of integers (with a non-zero divisor) is a rational number. Then irrational numbers are numbers that can be placed in their approximate positions on a number line and not expressed as a quotient of integers.

Though the term “irrational” is not introduced until Topic B, students learn that irrational numbers exist and are different from rational numbers. Students learn to find positive square roots and cube roots of expressions and know that there is only one such number. Topic A includes some extension work on simplifying perfect square factors of radicals in preparation for Algebra I.